The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-04-23
Ancient Millionaires.

Thousands of men have enyied Astor
Stewart, Vanderbilt, Mackay, Keene, Gould
aud the other fellows who can buy straw
berries at 81 per box; but the richest Of
them are mere Migrants when compared to
some of the aucients. There was Minus,
for instance. He was the son of Nimrod
the old hunter, who made lions scratch for
holes and tigers take to bitches. Old MIN
left his boy about 9130,000,000 in cash,
besides 10000 cattle, piece of land about
as big as Arkansas, and 1900 likely
slaves. There were no lawyers in those
days who made specially of breaking wills,
and young Minus quickly took possession
and cast about for some plan to keep him.
self out of the poorhouse.
He was considered poor young man,
and had he been seen Juggling his girl to
an ice cream saloon or riding out in livery
rig, his friends would have said he would
have brought up in garnet. By lucky
capture of territory from the Assyrians,
together with 10000 slaves, 125,000 cat
tie, ten wagon loads of silver and jewels,
and few other trihes. Minus walked up
the social ladder until big bugs asked after
his wife and babies, and he could lose three
games of billiards without wondering if the
owner of the saloon would take 'sstand
off. !" He was worth 1850, 000,0 900 when
he died, and yet for the last five years of
his life he went without mutton because
the price had raised to three cents per
pound.
The heiress with $4,000 bank ac-
count considers herself some pumpkins, but
what three-cent-piece she would have
been along side of Queen Semiramus. She
not only had the lucre left by Minus, but
in ten years she had increased it two-fold.
Just multiply 9350,000,00O by two, and
you have the amount of her bank balance,
to say nothing of jewels and clothing and
furniture and palaces and slaves and cattle.
Had she sold out and cleaned up, she could
have drawn her little check for 9700, 000,-
900. She didn't worry about where her
spring bonnet was to come from, and when
a new style of dress goods came out she
didn't sit up nights fer fear some neighbor
would secure a pattern first. While she
made it lively for her enemies she was soft
on her friends. She gave her waiting
maid 100000 in lump for dressing her
hair in a new style, and she tossed the
same amount to her dress maker as a re-
ward for the excellent fit of one particular
dress. One day when she saw poor old
man travelling the highway on foot, she
him with 500 asses to ride on,
and insisted on his accepting $4,000 to
pay his toll and tavern bills.
Cyrus, King of Persia from the year 53S
to $50, had some little change to begin
with, and in ten years he could draw his
check for $500, 900, 900. Hedidn't haggle
over the price of a slave when man came
to buy, but presented him with 1000.
He at one time owned 10000 horses, 49,
900 cattle, 100000 sheep, $4,000 asses,
and 25,0 900 slaves, and when he got tired
of palace costing 81, 10000 he gave 1t
away to some poor wash-woman with seven
children to support. He one day set down
to dinner which had cost EDO, 900, and
in the afternoon he went on 100000
drunk. The police didn't run him in, or
he would doubtless have insisted on paying
a fine of 100000, and presented his honor
with corner house and lot in the toniest
part of Babylon.
King Menes was another well-heeled
man. 1t was too much trouble to count
his cash, SO he weighed it. One day when
an old friend asked him for the loan of a
few dollars until Saturday night, he sent
him procession of 60 asses, each loaded
with 100 pounds of gold coin. He paid
100000 for bird which could whistle,
the same for trick dog, and he had such
a fondness for white oxen that he shelled
out 925, 900 apiece for them, and at one
time had drove of 1000. When he got
out with the boys he made things lively.
During one spree in his city of Memphis
he gave away 100000, and didn't get
drunk at that. At one time he had &c.,
900 gold chains, 100000 finger rings,
100000 costly swords, 100000 daggeFs,
and land only knows how many fish lines,
jack knives, cork screws and tobacco
boxes. His wife had 100000 a year
as pin money, and when his eldest son
went up to Thebes to see the elephant, he
was followed by 500 friends, 1000 slaves,
7, 900 horses and f500,000.